Portable Folding Awning

ABSTRACT

Portable folding awning, for use especially on the beach, in the countryside, on terraces or recreation areas, for leisure or relaxation, which has two parallel, extendible frames. There are posts folded under the frames in the manner of telescopic tubes, a tensioning ball-and-socket joint on the arm of the frame and rubber tensioning elements at the ends of the frames, which are secured to the posts. There are also a securing stud and two rectangular slots at 90° and 45° to the perpendicular at the ends of the frames.

SUBJECT MATTER OF THE INVENTION

The present specification relates to a Utility Model concerning a portable folding awning, with a novel system for closing up and folding out, the clear purpose of which is to obtain a product with superb features, which enables proper securing and positioning of all its elements and is highly reliable during its useful life, in addition to the simplification of the set-up and subsequent maintenance in tasks of changing out each and every one of its elements.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is applicable within the industry of manufacturing awnings, sunshades and parasols for the beach, the countryside, terraces or gardens, street markets, and even for pavement cafés, where they are very typical, comprising the manufacture of accessories thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The portable folding awning proposed by the invention constitutes, in and of itself, a clear solution to the currently existing problem in the field, as it may be incorporated with a simple mechanism for set-up and opening thereof, thus improving upon the usefulness and appearance of the existing products on the market, within the sector at hand, providing shelter in its immediate surroundings, safety, and protecting all of its elements, both inside and out, without adversely affecting subsequent performance and achieving necessary safety conditions, likewise being subject to the corresponding regulations, all of which is based on a product with a simple system and a simplified operating concept.

Everyone is familiar with the current problem, stemming from the transport or placement of sunshades on the beach, in gardens or in the countryside or street markets, and likewise in cafés, which are usually the classic sunshades or, in some cases, simply four posts with a piece of cloth at the top between the four supports acting as an awning, with a great many small parts that eventually get lost, and which may be more or less rudimentary, and in many cases are an obstacle for passers-by or pedestrians. Thus, they entail great difficulties and drawbacks, particularly when it comes to safely securing them and keeping all of their elements sound against the wind or other elements, without at any time impeding good lighting and a pleasant and bright environment, apart from the excessive weight they usually have.

The location and positioning of the anchoring and securing points on beaches, in the countryside, or in other places where sunshades or parasols are usually located, are almost always on unstable ground such as the fine sand of beaches, where in many cases sunshades cannot withstand the gusts of wind and therefore may become an unpleasant nuisance for those using them and those in the surrounding area.

All of the problems mentioned are resolved in a satisfactory manner by the recommended system, which consists of a rectangular-shaped awning or sunshade, to which four telescopic posts are incorporated, which are made tense from the top portion using pieces of rubber in order to secure them to the ground. They are joined together at the top by two rigid and two collapsible and folding members, located at different heights so as to be able to cross over each other like scissors with the help of a central ball-and-socket joint found in the two facing folding arms. Once they are unfolded, their outline forms a rectangle upon which a tarpaulin is situated, secured on the rigid sides by means of Velcro. On the ends having the rigid sides, folding in parallel, two for each pair of posts, there are an equal number of arms that may be regulated by the ball-and-socket joint joining to the rigid side with two or three positions, and between each one of the parallel arms may be extended, as with the top portion, a tarpaulin with the same closing system. In this way two of the four sides of the awning or sunshade may be covered or closed up to a greater or lesser extent.

Lastly, when closing up the awning or sunshade, the folding system is very simple, as one need only fold the collapsible sides and hide them out of sight between the frames of the rigid upper sides when joining the two together. Subsequently, the telescopic posts are closed up, to fold them to the bottom of each of the frames of the rigid upper sides and, in the case of the arms, they are folded on top of each of the frames of the rigid upper sides over their top portion, thus reducing the entire system to a small-sized rectangular-shaped block wrapped in the tarpaulins, since during folding and by means of a cord situated in the centre of the central tarpaulin, they are left out of the folding of the awning, enabling the tarpaulin to be folded over the top of the assembly.

Because the indicated system has standard measurements like the conventional sunshades with which everyone is familiar, this makes it possible to adapt and fit them to all sorts of places when positioning them. The same is true even in terms of transport, as it is reduced, inside its bag, to a short longitudinal rectangular shape, providing unique features and an improved appearance, not just of the elements at the individual level, but also for the surroundings in which they are located.

The advantages and effects deriving from the Model being claimed are as follows:

-   -   Due to its ability to be mass produced, and with commonly used,         inexpensive and recyclable materials, the cost of the product is         low.     -   The assembly may be easily set up and taken down by means of         manipulating the opening of the sunshade by extending the         elements of which it is made up.     -   As all of the elements are collapsible except for the two rigid         ones, this makes it so that, once folded up, it forms a         rectangular-shaped package that is lightweight and easy to carry         and store.     -   As the arms are hinged, they make it possible to provide more or         less shelter and to protect the inside from the sunlight and         from heat, enabling air to pass through.     -   As the assembly is light and all of its elements are joined         together, one can rest assured that none of the elements or         components will be lost.     -   As another tarpaulin may be joined with securing arms to the         fixed frames, the shaded area may thus be expanded.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the present description, and for the purpose of helping to make the characteristics of the invention more readily understandable, the present specification is accompanied by several sheets of drawings, constituting an integral part of the same, which by way of illustration and not limitation represent the following:

FIG. 1.—Shows a perspective view of the awning or sunshade when partially open, wherein one may observe the main elements and their location upon the frames.

FIG. 2.—Shows a profile view of an upper frame in cross-section, with one collapsible side folded out, the stud thereof and the tensioning element of the post.

FIG. 3.—Shows a perspective view of the ball-and-socket joint of the extended arms.

FIG. 4.—Shows a perspective view of the assembly when partially folded up, to be placed upon its box.

FIG. 5.—Shows a perspective view of the awning when open with each side at a different height and with the tarpaulins in place, wherein one may observe the overall appearance.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the figures shown, one can see that it is an awning or sunshade (FIG. 5), formed by two frames (1) and (2) on the inner sides of which there is an equal number of arms (3) and (4) that fold like scissors and are hinged by means of a hinge (5) which, when extended with the help of the tensioning elements (6), forms a rectangle, under the frames (1) and (2). Likewise, four telescopic tubes fold out in pairs, with several height positions (7) and partially incline outwards with the help of the tensioning elements (8), and serve as posts and structural supports. At the top of the frames, another four longitudinal tubes (9) may be folded out as a continuation of the frames at the sides (10) thereof, upon which they swing and are positioned at 90° or 45° to the perpendicular, remaining secured by each of the corresponding studs (11). Once the assembly has been folded out, the tarpaulin (12) situated upon the upper structure is fixed thereto by small longitudinal strips of Velcro (13), and when closing it up, from the central tarpaulin there protrudes a cord (14) which, upon folding the sides, penetrates and passes through the holes (15) and (16) to close up the assembly (FIG. 4) more comfortably upon the box (17) and tie it up with the strap (18).

It is deemed unnecessary to make this description any longer in order for anyone skilled in the art to understand the scope of the invention and the advantages deriving thereof.

The materials, shape, size and arrangement of the elements shall be subject to variation, so long as said variation does not entail an alteration to the essence of the invention.

The terms in which this specification has been described should always be taken in a broad, non-limiting sense. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable folding awning, for use especially on the beach, in the countryside, on terraces or recreation areas, for leisure or relaxation, comprising two parallel and extendible frames.
 2. The portable folding awning, according to claim 1, further comprising posts folded under the frames in the manner of telescopic tubes.
 3. The portable folding awning, according to claim 1, further comprising a tensioning ball-and-socket joint on an arm of the frame.
 4. The portable folding awning, according to claim 2, further comprising rubber tensioning elements at ends of the frames, secured to the posts.
 5. The portable folding awning, according to claim 1, further comprising a cord in a top central area of a central tarpaulin mounted to the frames.
 6. The portable folding awning, according to claim 1, further comprising small holes in a center of side tarpaulins mounted to the frames.
 7. The portable folding awning, according to claim 1, further comprising a securing stud.
 8. The portable folding awning, according to claim 1, further comprising two rectangular slots at 90° and 45° to a perpendicular at ends of the frames. 